diff --git a/alerts/class-alert-type-menu-alert.php b/alerts/class-alert-type-menu-alert.php
index b3950d93e..99032b65f 100644
--- a/alerts/class-alert-type-menu-alert.php
+++ b/alerts/class-alert-type-menu-alert.php
@@ -141,8 +141,6 @@ public function menu_alert( $wp_admin_bar ) {
 	/**
 	 * Get a list of all current alert messages for current user.
 	 *
-	 * @todo update this for VIP. (get_user_meta)
-	 *
 	 * @return array List of alert messages
 	 */
 	public function get_messages() {
diff --git a/classes/class-admin.php b/classes/class-admin.php
index 5fc88e583..0a0cbe08a 100644
--- a/classes/class-admin.php
+++ b/classes/class-admin.php
@@ -1091,10 +1091,6 @@ public function get_users_record_meta( $authors ) {
 	 * @return mixed
 	 */
 	public function get_user_meta( $user_id, $meta_key, $single = true ) {
-		if ( wp_stream_is_vip() && function_exists( 'get_user_attribute' ) ) {
-			return get_user_attribute( $user_id, $meta_key );
-		}
-
 		return get_user_meta( $user_id, $meta_key, $single );
 	}
 
@@ -1109,10 +1105,6 @@ public function get_user_meta( $user_id, $meta_key, $single = true ) {
 	 * @return int|bool
 	 */
 	public function update_user_meta( $user_id, $meta_key, $meta_value, $prev_value = '' ) {
-		if ( wp_stream_is_vip() && function_exists( 'update_user_attribute' ) ) {
-			return update_user_attribute( $user_id, $meta_key, $meta_value );
-		}
-
 		return update_user_meta( $user_id, $meta_key, $meta_value, $prev_value );
 	}
 
@@ -1126,10 +1118,6 @@ public function update_user_meta( $user_id, $meta_key, $meta_value, $prev_value
 	 * @return bool
 	 */
 	public function delete_user_meta( $user_id, $meta_key, $meta_value = '' ) {
-		if ( wp_stream_is_vip() && function_exists( 'delete_user_attribute' ) ) {
-			return delete_user_attribute( $user_id, $meta_key, $meta_value );
-		}
-
 		return delete_user_meta( $user_id, $meta_key, $meta_value );
 	}
 }
diff --git a/classes/class-list-table.php b/classes/class-list-table.php
index 6a5d32315..23c8a4f39 100644
--- a/classes/class-list-table.php
+++ b/classes/class-list-table.php
@@ -151,12 +151,12 @@ public function get_hidden_columns() {
 		}
 
 		// Directly checking the user meta; to check whether user has changed screen option or not.
-		$hidden = $this->plugin->admin->get_user_meta( $user->ID, 'manage' . $this->screen->id . 'columnshidden', true );
+		$hidden = get_user_meta( $user->ID, 'manage' . $this->screen->id . 'columnshidden', true );
 
 		// If user meta is not found; add the default hidden column 'id'.
 		if ( ! $hidden ) {
 			$hidden = array( 'id' );
-			$this->plugin->admin->update_user_meta( $user->ID, 'manage' . $this->screen->id . 'columnshidden', $hidden );
+			update_user_meta( $user->ID, 'manage' . $this->screen->id . 'columnshidden', $hidden );
 		}
 
 		return $hidden;
@@ -1139,7 +1139,7 @@ public function screen_controls( $status, $args ) {
 		if ( 'on' === $option && 'false' === $heartbeat ) {
 			$option = 'off';
 
-			$this->plugin->admin->update_user_meta( $user_id, $this->plugin->admin->live_update->user_meta_key, 'off' );
+			update_user_meta( $user_id, $this->plugin->admin->live_update->user_meta_key, 'off' );
 		}
 
 		$nonce = wp_create_nonce( $this->plugin->admin->live_update->user_meta_key . '_nonce' );
diff --git a/classes/class-live-update.php b/classes/class-live-update.php
index 220288bc7..f20d0baaf 100644
--- a/classes/class-live-update.php
+++ b/classes/class-live-update.php
@@ -72,14 +72,14 @@ public function enable_live_update() {
 		$user = (int) $input['user'];
 
 		if ( 'false' === $input['heartbeat'] ) {
-			$this->plugin->admin->update_user_meta( $user, $this->user_meta_key, 'off' );
+			update_user_meta( $user, $this->user_meta_key, 'off' );
 
 			wp_send_json_error( esc_html__( "Live updates could not be enabled because Heartbeat is not loaded.\n\nYour hosting provider or another plugin may have disabled it for performance reasons.", 'stream' ) );
 
 			return;
 		}
 
-		$success = $this->plugin->admin->update_user_meta( $user, $this->user_meta_key, $checked );
+		$success = update_user_meta( $user, $this->user_meta_key, $checked );
 
 		if ( $success ) {
 			wp_send_json_success( ( 'on' === $checked ) ? 'Live Updates enabled' : 'Live Updates disabled' );
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ public function heartbeat_received( $response, $data ) {
 			return $response;
 		}
 
-		$enable_stream_update = ( 'off' !== $this->plugin->admin->get_user_meta( get_current_user_id(), $this->user_meta_key ) );
+		$enable_stream_update = ( 'off' !== get_user_meta( get_current_user_id(), $this->user_meta_key ) );
 
 		// Register list table.
 		$this->list_table = new List_Table(